Hooked on Hoops – new beaded hoop earrings

Yep, I am. Totally hooked on wire wrapping hoop earrings lately. And it seams that each time I try to make the same earring design twice, I end up with something quite different. Like the moonstone hoops below – after the first design was sold, I wanted to make another one to put in my shop… And created two more moonstone hoops none of which really replaces the sold one. To be completely honest with you, I still haven’t managed to do the design I had in mind before I started wire wrapping this first pair..

… with a row of tiny 3mm fluorite beads and a hammered copper ornament in the middle. Surely enough, I had a different design in my mind, but I am very happy with the result.

Copper hoops with fluorite beads

I’m not sure how others create, but I tend to get new obsessive ideas in the middle of the process. Lots. So after failing to do the design I had imagined on the first try, I’ve started shaping copper wire into another pair of spiral hoops.. then I’ve found the 4mm opalite moonstone beads in my bead stash and there I was gone with the improvisation again..

Copper hoops with opalite moonstone (sold, thank you!)

These moonstone earrings are empty in the middle, buy they look real pretty when in ears.

The third design was the most “experimental” as I was out of fine copper wire for wrapping and it was an opportunity to try mixed metal. There’s a solid copper frame and it’s wrapped with silver plated copper wire.

Mixed metal hoops with unakite beads

I love unakite and copper combo, however I get mixed feelings about this third paid of hoops. Sometimes I like them, sometimes I think they’re too busy.

And then there was my attempt to make another pair of moonstone hoops Which as you can see turned out to be quite different. I’ve used faceted opalite moonstone beads for this pair and also attached a Czech fire polished crystal to the central wire swirl.

Wire wrapped hoops with faceted opalite moonstone and Czech fire polished beads (sold, thank you!)

By the way, I did step by step photos of the process and I’m planning to release a wire wrapping tutorial for these hoops soon. Be sure to drop by later if you’re interested!

Needless to say, a second attempt to recreate the first moonstone hoop design followed.. And this one turned out different too. I just felt the need to fill the center with some ornament so added a couple of hammered copper wire swirls.

Opalite moonstone hoops with hammered copper swirl ornament

The last pair is a.. misunderstanding? These are not my usual colors at all, but I guess the the short winter days and long dark evenings raise the need for some “color therapy” and bright juicy colors to lift the spirit. And these are absolutely awesome!

Delicious dyed candy jade hoops with tiny moonstone dangles in the center (sold, thank you!)

They make me think I should pick bright colored beads more often

UPDATE: a new pair of “candy” hoops is available in my Etsy shop.